1.

INTRODUCTION

1.0.1 What is greenhouse gas ?

A greenhouse gas is any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing
infrared radiation, thereby trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere. Many chemical
compounds present in Earth's atmosphere behave as 'greenhouse gases'. These are gases
which allow direct sunlight (relative shortwave energy) to reach the Earth's surface
unimpeded. As the shortwave energy (that in the visible and ultraviolet portion of the spectra)
heats the surface, longer-wave (infrared) energy (heat) is reradiated to the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases absorb this energy, thereby allowing less heat to escape back to space, and
'trapping' it in the lower atmosphere. Some greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for only a
short time, but others can stay in the atmosphere and affect the climate for thousands of years.

1.0.2 Chemical component of greenhouse gas

The example of greenhouse gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide,
methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide, and ozone in the atmosphere. Those that are manmade

include

the chlorofluorocarbons

(CFCs),

hydrofluorocarbons

(HFCs)

and

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), as well as sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). All of these gases are the
chemicalcomponent or gases for the greenhouse gases.

1.1

LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1.1 Sources of greenhouse gas

Atmospheric concentrations of both the natural and man-made gases have been rising over the
last few centuries due to the industrial revolution. As the global population has increased and
our reliance on fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and natural gas) has been firmly solidified, so

emissions of these gases have risen. While gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally in the
atmosphere, through our interference with the carbon cycle (through burning forest lands, or
mining and burning coal), we artificially move carbon from solid storage to its gaseous state,
thereby increasing atmospheric concentrations. Some greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere
for only a short time, but others can stay in the atmosphere and affect the climate for
thousands of years. Greenhouse gases come from all sorts of everyday activities, such as
using electricity, heating our homes, and driving around town. These greenhouse gases don't
just stay in one place after they're added to the atmosphere. As air moves around the world,
greenhouse gases become globally mixed, which means the concentration of a greenhouse gas
like carbon dioxide is roughly the same no matter where you measure it. Even though some
countries produce more greenhouse gases than others, emissions from every country
contribute to the problem.
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide is the main greenhouse gas. Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions were
carbon dioxide emissions, resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, solid waste, trees, wood,
and other chemical reactions. It also comes from natural process like respiration and
deforestation.
Methane and Other Gases
Another greenhouse gas, methane, comes from landfills, coal mines, oil and natural gas
operations, and agriculture; it represented about 9% of total emissions. Nitrous oxide (6% of
total emissions) is emitted through the use of nitrogen fertilizers, from burning fossil fuels,
and from certain industrial and waste management processes.

The Energy Connection

Fossil fuels are made up of hydrogen and carbon. When fossil fuels are burned, the carbon
combines with oxygen to create carbon dioxide. The amount of carbon dioxide produced
depends on the carbon content of the fuel; for example, for each unit of energy produced,
natural gas emits about half and petroleum fuels about three-quarters of the carbon dioxide
produced by coal. About 28% of the energy we use goes to transporting people and goods

from one place to another. Cars, vans, and buses are commonly used to carry people. Trucks,
airplanes, and trains can be used to carry people and freight.
Energy Use By Type of Vehicle

Automobiles are the most common mode of transportatio. Personal vehicles (like cars and
light trucks) consume 60% of the total energy used for transportation, while commercial
vehicles (like large trucks and construction vehicles), mass transit (like airplanes, trains, and
buses), and pipelines account for the rest.

Figure 1 : Major greenhouse gas

1.1.2 Greenhouse effect and Enhance Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earths surface. When the Suns energy
reaches the Earths atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed
and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. The trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower

atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun
than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface. The process is by which radiation
from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would
be in the absence of its atmosphere. If a planet's atmosphere contains radiatively active gases
the atmosphere radiates energy in all directions. Part of this radiation is directed towards the
surface, warming it.
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect is human activities that results to the rapid increase in
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere which is when too much heat is trapped on
Earth, resulting in an overall increase in global temperatures. An increase in the concentration
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere results in more heat being retained and an overall
warming of the Earths temperature. Although they make up a small percentage of
atmospheric gases, changes in the concentration of greenhouse gases have a huge effect on the
balance of natural processes.

1.1.3
2.
3.
4.
5.

Steps of the Greenhouse Effect

The sun provides energy to the Earth. This energy then enters the Earths atmosphere.
The Earths surface absorbs most of this energy, which warms the planet.
Some of the energy is returned back through the atmosphere.
But, some of this energy that was to be returned to space is captured by gases (carbon

dioxide, methane, and water) in the atmosphere and sent back down to Earth.
6. This is called the Greenhouse Effect.

1.1.4 The Good of Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural function of Earths atmosphere, the happy result of which is
a livable world. Gases in the atmosphere, especially water vapor, insulate the Earth,
preventing the suns heat from escaping. The Earth stays warm and life thrives. The
greenhouse effect is useful because trapping some energy keeps the temperatures on our
planet mild and suitable for living things. Without its atmosphere and the greenhouse effect,
the average temperature at the surface of the Earth would be zero degrees Fahrenheit. In a

simple words, the greenhouse effect helps regulate the temperature of our planet and it is
essential for life on Earth.

1.1.5 The Bad of Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Unfortunately, human activity, especially the use of fossil fuels, has increased the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. More heat is absorbed, increasing the greenhouse effect
that can cause the temperature to increase out of control.and bringing negative consequences
to Earths systems and life.

Figure 2 : Natural and Human Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

1.1.6 The Factor Contribute to Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is being enhanced by human activities that are adding greenhouse gases
to the Earth's atmosphere. Today greenhouse gas levels are the highest they have been in the
past 3 million years and have been increasing since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. As
there are already greenhouse gas emissions from natural sources, additional amounts leads to
more heat being trapped on the planet. This extra heat creates an impact by distorting weather
patterns and causing climate change. Today, the greenhouse effect continues to be enhanced
by the addition of man-made greenhouse gas emissions to the Earth's atmosphere. Prior to the
Industrial Revolution, the components of the greenhouse effect were in balance, particularly

the gases that circulated in the atmosphere. Once it got underway, carbon dioxide (CO2),
methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and fluorinated gas levels have been increasing because
of humans activities. Below are some examples of these activities and their impact:
1. The burning of fossil fuels (such as natural gas, coal and oil) have added large quantities
of CO2 into the planet's atmosphere. Fossil fuels are used to produce electricity, for
transportation and in industrial production.
2. Farming practices, such as intensive chemical soil fertilization, have led to the increase in
CH4 and N2O levels in the air.
3. Industry also produces and emits fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). These are very strong
greenhouse gases with many being more than a hundred times more powerful than CO2.
4. Deforestation increases the amount of CO2 in the air, as there are less trees to absorb it
through photosynthesis.

1.1.7 The Impact of Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

With an enhanced greenhouse effect, the Earth is unable to release enough heat to space
which leads to global warming. Global weather patterns absorb some of this overall increase
in temperature and adjust for this accumulation in energy. These two effects are now creating
climate changes around the world. Scientist have recorded a 0.75C increase in the planet's
overall temperature during the course of the last 100 years. The enhanced greenhouse effect
leads to other effects on our climate and has already caused:

Greater strength of extreme weather events like: heatwaves, tropical cyclones, floods,

and other major storms.

Increasing number and size of forest fires.
Rising sea levels (predicted to be as high as two feet by the end of the next century
Melting of glaciers and polar ice.
Increasing acidity in the ocean, resulting in bleaching of coral reefs and damage to
oceanic wildlife.

1.1.7.1 Global Warming

Human contribution of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere has risen sharply since the
Industrial Revolution. Since then, carbon dioxide alone has risen almost 40 percent, the
Environmental Protection Agency reports. The CO2 collects in the atmosphere, trapping more
heat. With increasing levels of greenhouse gases being added daily, the greenhouse effect is
now enhanced to the point where too much heat is being kept in the Earth's atmosphere. The
heat trapped by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases has increased surface temperatures
by 0.75C (1.4F) over the last 100 years. The result is global warming. The phrase means
that Earths average temperature is increasing. The temperature increase is melting ice stored
at the Earths poles, which creates a change in sea level. It also creates climate change. Other
impact of global warming are also :

More drought and more flooding

o When the weather gets warmer, evaporation from both land and sea increases.
This can cause drought in areas of the world where the increased evaporation is
not compensated for by more precipitation.In some regions of the world this
will result in crop failure and famine especially in areas where temperatures
are already high. The extra water vapour in the atmosphere will fall again as
extra rain, which can cause flooding in other places in the world.

Less ice and snow

o Worldwide, glaciers are shrinking rapidly at present. Ice appears to be melting
faster than previously estimated. In areas that are dependent on meltwater
from mountain areas, this can cause drought and lack of domestic water
supply.

More extreme weather incidents

o The warmer climate will probably cause more heatwaves, more violent rainfall
and also an increase in the number and/or severity of storms.

Rising sea level

o Sea level rises because of melting ice and snow and because of the thermal
expansion of the sea (water expands when warmed). Areas that are just above
sea level now, may become submerged.

Three factors affect the degree to which any greenhouse gas will influence global warming:

Its abundance in the atmosphere

How long it stays in the atmosphere

Its global-warming potential

1.1.7.2 Climate Change

Climate change means that the average weather on Earth is different than it used to be.
Consequences of a changed climate can include freak weather, increased flooding, hotter heat
waves, stronger hurricanes and more droughts. The changes in weather create still more
results. For instance, more droughts create the dry conditions that fuel massive wildfires.
Meanwhile, climate change affects Earths biodiversity, and biodiversity is needed for healthy
ecosystems.
1.1.7.3 Ocean Acidification
Increases in carbon dioxide levels have made the world's oceans 30% more acidic since the
Industrial Revolution.The ocean serves as a sink for this gas and absorbs about a quarter of
human carbon dioxide emissions, which then goes on to react with seawater to form carbonic
acid. So as the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises, the acidification of the oceans
increases.
1.1.7.4 Smog and ozone pollution
Over the last century, global background ozone concentrations have become 2 times larger
due mainly to increases in methane and nitrogen oxides caused by human emissions. At
ground level, ozone is an air pollutant that is a major component of smog which is dangerous
for both humans and plants. Long-term ozone exposure has also been shown to reduce life
expectancy.

1.1.7.5 Ozone layer depletion

Nitrous oxide damages the ozone layer and is now the most important ozone depleting
substance and the largest cause of ozone layer depletion. This is because CFCs and many
other gases that are harmful for the ozone layer which has reduced their atmospheric
concentration.

1.1.8 Ways to Overcome Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

1.2 CONCLUSION

http://whatsyourimpact.org/enhanced-greenhouse-effect
http://www.livescience.com/37743-greenhouse-effect.html

http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/basics/today/greenhouse-gases.html
http://www.livescience.com/37821-greenhouse-gases.html
https://www.ameslab.gov/esha/where-greenhouse-gases-come
http://www.livescience.com/37821-greenhouse-gases.html
http://beacon.berkeley.edu/GHGs.aspx
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/dynamic/session5/sess5_greenhouse2.htm
http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadGreenhouse.html
http://classroom.synonym.com/greenhouse-gases-bad-earth-23688.html
http://study.com/academy/lesson/greenhouse-gases-and-the-enhanced-greenhouse-effect.html
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/3rd-+-4th-class/3rd-+-4thclass-environme/climate-change/the-greenhouse-effect/steps-of-the-greenhouse-e/